I am  a European citizen and have lived and worked in the U.S. Tech
sector for 7 years. I   have a 10 year Green Card which was acquired
by my  marriage to a U.S. citizen (we divorced last year).
Up to this time,  I have not applied for a U.S. passport although had
I done so I would not be in the quandary as stated below:
I left my job in the Tech sector some months ago and was unable to
subsequently find a suitable job in my residential area. Very recently
I was offered a job in Central America for a work period of 12
months, and I have accepted this because I need to earn money again.
My departure from the U.S.A. and to start the job overseas will be in
January/2006. I acknowledge that my U.S. Green card status is under
threat if I work overseas, and that is my concern, and the reason why
I'm posting this
as a question on Google.
Namely, my question is this: What can I do in order to retain my Green
card staus and, therefore, not lose my permanent visa status for the
U.S.A. by working overseas? I fully intent to return to the U.S.A.
after the completion of my overseas work contract.I will try any legal
strategy to allow my permanent visa to be valid when I permantly
return to U.S.A in 12 months time.

1) Would making frequent short stay return visits to the U.S.A. help my
situation. Hoping that this strategy could help me qualify for the
required minimum residential visa period in the U.S.A. for the
forthcoming 12 months.
2) As I qualify for  a U.S. passport, is it possible to successfully
apply for before departure, and be granted a U.S. passport even
though I shall not be in the U.S.A. while my passport application is
in process?
Your solution(s) would be appreciated.

I am posting this as a comment, since the answer you need is

"You need to retain an immigration lawyer" - this is not a 'do it yourself'
problem and GA (read the disclaimers) does not provide legal advice.."

and it may not be worth $50 (or it may be invaluable). 

Whichever is the case, comments are free:

As you apparently know (or suspect) Green Card is intended for people who want
to become citizens. So,(basic rule is) if you leave US to live
elsewhere, you loose it. To visit form time to time may work, or may
not. The only real solution is to apply for citizenship (if that's
what you want).
In spite of the 'basic rule' and  'first glance' impression, the INS
examiners are human, and are able, and sometime willing, to accomodate
special cases. To know is you can be , and how you be accpted as such,
how do such a pleading, go and get a lawyer.

Hedgie

Thank you, hedgie-ga, for your comments. I am following your advice
with regard to an immigration lawyer.

switchback1-ga